MYDOs to East London for Dorado and Wahoo #gamefishing #baitswimmer #baitswimming

MYDOs to East London for Dorado and Wahoo #gamefishing #baitswimmer #baitswimming: and a big welcome back to MYDO Tackle Talk

we’re going to East London now
we’re gonna see Wouter and the guys
paddle their kayaks miles and miles
catch wahoo and dorado
they paddle like 25 km each time
but recently they’ve bought a boat
so now they also bought a lot of Mydos
45 Mydos took a bit took us a week to make them
cause we were a little bit behind in stock
normally we are stocked ahead okay
but these guys are gonna catch Dorado like I said
so the Mydos are all a little bit lighter in weight
a bit more colourful
and there’s a few little extra adaptations and tricks
which I’m gonna talk to you through right now
alright let’s go have a look at what’s going on here
so there are amazing colours and colour combinations
these days
and Dorado is never gonna say no to these things
and they’re all slightly lighter than normal
because they are for Dorado
and Dorado we all know do not go down
they stay at the top
so a combination of elements
will make up the perfect Dorado bait
and here it looks like this
okay that’s called the Flying Fish
now it’s got that little *FLOAT on top
it’s only got 1 ounces inside it
it’s got a treble which you might wonder about
why there’s a treble fishing for Dorado
it’s because I don’t fish with the drag on loose
for Dorado and I suggest you guys try the same
don’t
you can feed the Dorado like you normally do and uh
you might hook it but if he comes along
and he finds this treble over here
there’s no chance he’s gonna not hook it you know
so you just get a strike you don’t have to feed this
the Dorado
like you have to feed a Marlin or something like that
okay so that’s the flying fish model
and it stays at the very top
there’s a little float added onto the line
to keep it up there there’s a few more of them
and there’s a demonstration of how to just
if you wanna
just fish with a single side in for the rider
that’s a great way of doing it also very light
um and the Dorado will swallow that thing whole
don’t worry
it goes right in check this picture right in okay
then we’re gonna move along to how we catch shad here
in Natal
and how we can adapt this to the Cape
for whatever fishing
so you just put a fillet plate on here
in place of the plastic you know
imagine the plastic there’s the fillet rather
and off you go shad and and all sorts in Natal
we use these to catch snoek with Natal
Snoek modified version okay
then you might wonder what that’s for what that there
you know what that is it’s a Christmas decoration
now the the anglers some anglers in in Hawaii
they fish in a thing called a glass float
very expensive little piece of kit um
I think it’s like $7 but it’s literally a glass float
and it creates a beautiful kind of um
light refraction through the water column as it
as the sun goes through the top
and come back at the bottom
it looks great so the best thing we could do is get uh
these little floats over here
which are not $7 we gotta just do some work to them
to make sure they get waterproof
otherwise they’re gonna sink
and that is the pack that is going to East London
Wouter and the okes are gonna catch a lot of fish
with this lot in East London okay
don’t forget to like and subscribe
sorry this video is so short
but uh that’s all we have to discuss today
pretty hey?

Sardines and Sighting Maps

Here are the links to existing and past  Sardine Sighting Maps. With instructions on how to install The Sardine News right on your phone, tablet, or even desktop.

2025 Sardine Map

2024 Sardine Map

2023 Sardine Map

2022 Sardine Map

2021 Sardine Map

Channels

Brucifire Surf Retorts – highly entertaining  surf reporting

Master Watermen – news from way down deep

The Sardine News – neva miss a single  sardine

FishBazaruto – 1000 pounds plus

MYDO Tackle Talk – highly technical  sport fishing

Surf Launching Southern Africa – getting out there safely

Water Woes – complain about your municipality here

Websites

umzimkulu.co.za – everything Umzimkulu umzimkuluadrenalin.co.za –  will get you right out and onto the edge thesardine.co.za – never miss a single  sardine masterwatermen.co.za – news from under water fishbazaruto.com – dreams brucifire.co.za – surf retorts

Underwater secrets revealed for rock, surf and estuary fishing

Underwater secrets revealed for rock, surf and estuary fishing: underwater vision has been a dream I have chased my entire life. It’s what got me into spearfishing in the first place. Technology has lagged big time, what with the first 3D units being positively disappointing. Although the most recent generation have produced startling results to marvel at.

But nothing beats an underwater camera for seeing exactly what is going on down there. Fish doing what they do. In their natural, undisturbed habitat. I do put bait sometimes and I have hooked and caught plenty of fish on the camera rod. But it is when I don’t put bait that I really get a glimpse of what gives.

Rock, Surf and Estuary Fishing SECRETS by MYDO Fishing Lures #shad #kob #grunter #stumpnose #perch

Currents

The first lesson you can learn from these cameras is that even at dead low or high tide, the water never stops moving. When the surf is flat, the water under the surface swirls around in huge gyres. At dead low in the estuary, the halocline (salt wedge) constantly moves around underwater.

In the estuary, these bodies of water are distinctly held apart by their varying salt densities. And there are not just two levels of salt. There are many, and there are haloclines between each of them. So as the camera lies on the bottom, these bodies of water move through the scene. A brown, olive tint will prevail for a few minutes, and the next thing, it goes blue as the summer sky. And in this water, swim the fish.

This water has a higher salt and oxygen content and clearly holds more action. And you can see for miles when that blue stuff moves in. Delightful!

Bite Behaviour

Another thing apparent on this video is hoe the fish bite. I am referring to grunter and kob mainly here. As they move in on the bait and bite downwards. They like literally stop over the bait, and jab from the top – for this is the way their mouths are shaped – to pick things up and swallow them.

I have footage somewhere of a big old grunter, having cleared out the bait, started having a go at my Mydo. I was fishing with a shad trace like this one…

These observations and an order for Mydos from Ryan in Mpande, near Port St Johns, is what led to the making of this video, I hope you enjoy it.

Thanks Ryan!

Sardines and Sighting Maps

Here are the links to existing and past  Sardine Sighting Maps. With instructions on how to install The Sardine News right on your phone, tablet, or even desktop.

2025 Sardine Map

2024 Sardine Map

2023 Sardine Map

2022 Sardine Map

2021 Sardine Map

Channels

Brucifire Surf Retorts – highly entertaining  surf reporting

Master Watermen – news from way down deep

The Sardine News – neva miss a single  sardine

FishBazaruto – 1000 pounds plus

MYDO Tackle Talk – highly technical  sport fishing

Surf Launching Southern Africa – getting out there safely

Water Woes – complain about your municipality here

Websites

umzimkulu.co.za – everything Umzimkulu umzimkuluadrenalin.co.za –  will get you right out and onto the edge thesardine.co.za – never miss a single  sardine masterwatermen.co.za – news from under water fishbazaruto.com – dreams brucifire.co.za – surf retorts

Gamefishing Strategies: To Clip, or not to Clip

Gamefishing Strategies: To Clip, or not to Clip – a long and healthy debate has flown strongly concerning the use of line clips as your terminal join. Luckily there are many options these days so let’s take a look through together.

For anglers, the pursuit of the perfect presentation often boils down to the smallest details – and few components spark as much lively debate as the terminal connection. Specifically, the use of line clips. While traditionally viewed with skepticism by purists, modern clip technology offers compelling advantages, making it essential to revisit the age-old question: To clip, or not to clip?

The Classic Approach vs. Modern Convenience

In the realm of game fishing, the mantra has always been “less is more” when it comes to terminal tackle. The more streamlined and discreet your connection, the more natural your lure’s action and the less wary your target fish. A clean double line to leader to lure setup remains the gold standard for many, minimizing visibility and potential points of failure.

However, the undeniable allure of the fishing clip lies in its sheer convenience. Imagine being able to swiftly switch between lures to match changing conditions or target species without re-tying a complex knot. This speed can be a game-changer when fish are actively feeding, or when time on the water is precious.

A Closer Look at Traditional Clips

The accompanying image showcasing a well-tied leader on a light tackle spinning outfit, rigged with a Mydo Luck Shot Mini #1, perfectly illustrates the use of a more robust, traditional clip. These designs, reminiscent of the Aftco clips popular in the 80s, offer a quick-change solution.

Advantages of Traditional Clips:

• Rapid Lure Changes: This is arguably the biggest benefit, allowing you to adapt quickly to fishing conditions.
• Versatile Connection: Can be clipped directly to a lure eye or used in conjunction with a swivel and trace.

Disadvantages of Traditional Clips:

• Action Inhibition: Some lure designs may have their natural swimming action hindered by the clip’s presence.
• Vulnerability to Damage: Aggressive fish can sometimes bite the clip open during a fight, leading to lost tackle and fish.
• Material Quality: Budget clips made from inferior materials are prone to bending or opening under stress.
• Increased Visibility: The additional form factor can make the terminal tackle more noticeable to wary fish.
• Tangle Risk: Protruding ends can occasionally snag, leading to unwanted tangles.

Despite these drawbacks, the speed of lure changes remains a powerful argument in favor of clips, especially when applied strategically. Fortunately, advancements in material science and design have led to a new generation of terminal tackle.

Enter the “Convenience Clip”: A Game Changer

Modern clip technology has addressed many of the traditional clip’s shortcomings, giving rise to the highly efficient “convenience clip.” This innovative design, often tiny yet formidable when crafted from high-quality spring steel, redefines the role of a fishing clip.

Key Advantages of the Convenience Clip:

• Superior Lure Action: Its symmetrical design ensures lures swim true and unimpeded, maintaining their intended action.
• Unerring Strength: When made from quality spring steel, these clips are incredibly strong and reliable.
• Rapid Lure Changes: Retains the core benefit of quick lure swaps.
• Minimal Visibility: The tiny form factor makes it far less prominent and almost invisible on most lures, crucial for clear water or finicky fish.
• Bite-Proof Design: Uniquely, this clip design actually closes more under strong pressure, making it virtually impossible for fish to bite open during a tussle. This is a significant improvement over older designs.

The “Dusta Clip” Innovation:
Taking versatility further, the convenience clip can even be dressed with fly-fishing material, enhancing its aesthetics and potentially adding to its attraction. When adorned in this manner, it transforms into the “Dusta Clip,” blurring the lines between terminal tackle and lure itself. It’s so effective that you can even attach a bare hook to it and catch fish!

Important Consideration for Swivel Use:
While incredibly versatile, a word of caution is warranted when connecting directly to a swivel. Aggressive pelagic species like kawa kawa (mackerel tuna) are known to target swivels during a feeding frenzy. If using a convenience clip with a swivel, particularly in such situations, opt for a plain clip rather than a dressed “Dusta Clip” to minimize its visual appeal as a bite target, protecting your leader from those sharp teeth.

MYDO’s Innovation: Integrating the Convenience Clip

At MYDO, we’ve embraced the convenience clip’s potential, integrating it directly into our popular Mydo Silver Bullet range. This means that alongside our IGFA-compliant versions, anglers now have the option of lures pre-equipped with these highly efficient clips, covering a wide array of fishing styles and preferences.

We are continuously refining our designs. While current convenience clips have proven highly effective, we are actively testing increased wire diameters to achieve the optimal balance of strength and user-friendliness, ensuring MYDO continues to deliver cutting-edge terminal solutions.

The convenience clip represents a significant leap forward in terminal tackle, offering a powerful blend of speed, stealth, and reliability. For the modern angler, it’s no longer a question of whether to clip, but rather, which advanced clip best suits the challenge at hand.

The main advantage being that you can pre-prepare a bunch of baits on droppers, and simply replace your old bait with a fresh one via the clippety-clip. This really will count in your favour when the bite is on.

Where to Buy

If you are from South Africa or surrounds, please use https://thesardine.co.za/mydo to order. But best is to get in touch with me Sean, directly. I am on umzimkulu@gmail.com or WhatsApp +27793269671. And this goes for international orders more specifically. Let’s chat through your target species and area, we will advise you and supply you with the kit exactly for what you need.

Sardines and Sighting Maps

Here are the links to existing and past Sardine Sighting Maps. With instructions on how to install The Sardine News right on your phone, tablet, or even desktop.

2025 Sardine Map

2024 Sardine Map

2023 Sardine Map

2022 Sardine Map

2021 Sardine Map

Channels

Brucifire Surf Retorts – highly entertaining  surf reporting

Master Watermen – news from way down deep

The Sardine News – neva miss a single  sardine

FishBazaruto – 1000 pounds plus

MYDO Tackle Talk – highly technical  sport fishing

Surf Launching Southern Africa – getting out there safely

Water Woes – complain about your municipality here

Websites

umzimkulu.co.za – everything Umzimkulu
umzimkuluadrenalin.co.za –  will get you right out and onto the edge
thesardine.co.za – never miss a single sardine
masterwatermen.co.za – news from under water
fishbazaruto.com – dreams
brucifire.co.za – surf retorts

MYDO Couta Spread with Brad Tanner #deep #sea #game #fishing #king #mackerel #durban #kzn

MYDO Couta Spread with Brad Tanner #deep #sea #game #fishing #king #mackerel #durban #kzn

If you are in South Africa, please use this link to order you MYDO Couta Spread…

MYDO Couta Spread – The Sardine News

shot BRAD (Tanner)
for being here yeah it was flipping cool man
let’s put together the your first Couta Pack
some of these knots were tied by Brad eh
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha alright
we starting with let’s start at the top
this is actually very serious about fish like very
this is just danger
don’t leave this lying around near pets or kids
this is very bad news but anyways
for a big bonny maybe a walla walla will fit on here
it goes deep there’s 4 ounces
and it swims a dead bait just perfectly alright
that’s the first one that’s going in
then there’s a slightly smaller one
3 ounces same kind of configuration wadda
wadda then we got the staple diet of all couta
on the whole coast
this is what they chow these things with
a sardine or a shad or a bonny or a mackerel
it’s a 2 ounce check out the colours are shot
Emilio for all these cool colours that you
hot pink and all kinds of colours
here’s the redhead
you know about the redhead
watch out for the stripes
then we got a fillet bait strip bait swimmer
and gets a duster on top
so you put a lekka fillet of bonito
or shad belly or something clever
and then you do the same for this one over here
and that’s how you catch the live bait to go on
this guy here
so these things here do catch couta as well
it is a its a couta spread
but these two okes here are most likely gonna catch you
what you need to put on these two guys
and these okes here will serve in between
you get your couta packs
you won’t believe where you get them from
Brad Tanner in Durban and uh
you can also get them from us here obviously
obviously obviously
just give us a shout okay Ciao

Sardines and Sighting Maps

Here are the links to existing and past Sardine Sighting Maps. With instructions on how to install The Sardine News right on your phone, tablet, or even desktop.

2025 Sardine Map

2024 Sardine Map

2023 Sardine Map

2022 Sardine Map

2021 Sardine Map

Channels

Brucifire Surf Retorts – highly entertaining  surf reporting

Master Watermen – news from way down deep

The Sardine News – neva miss a single  sardine

FishBazaruto – 1000 pounds plus

MYDO Tackle Talk – highly technical  sport fishing

Surf Launching Southern Africa – getting out there safely

Water Woes – complain about your municipality here

Websites

umzimkulu.co.za – everything Umzimkulu
umzimkuluadrenalin.co.za –  will get you right out and onto the edge
thesardine.co.za – never miss a single sardine
masterwatermen.co.za – news from under water
fishbazaruto.com – dreams
brucifire.co.za – surf retorts

Anything That Moves – Shad Fishing With MYDO

Anything That Moves – Shad Fishing With MYDO: below is the transcript of the video…

South Africa orders can be placed HERE. This site is in USD and is for all international orders, postage is built in.

Hi welcome back MYDO tackle talk been ages I know
but cool here we are
and we’re gonna be talking about shad
because the shad did not go mad this year
don’t know where they are
but they’re very hard to catch this this year
this there’s not many of them
they all kind of seem to be the same size
which is a bit worrying about the population’s health
because for the last 10 years or more
there’s been no effective policing
and bukkie bootloads
and bakkie loads of shad have been taken away
and no one even gives a hell anyway
here we are fishing long time ago
when there were plenty shad
I think this is about 5 years ago
I can’t remember exactly
but as you can see there’s lots of shad here
so a little reef off the back line
somewhere about 14 meters
and that’s all I’m gonna tell you
and every year the shad come to this place
it’s so much fun but uh this particular session
I kind of didn’t know what was going on there
but I had a camera on and I couldn’t wait to see
so I let go down to the bottom
get a few bites or whatever
but as I’m coming up bang
bang bang
so there is the beginning of this whole shed episode
now there’s lots of those fish there
are we catching them though
pulling them out one by one you know let
them go keeping a few Chelsea likes shad
you’ll see just now so anyway
there’s lots of shad here
and now you’ll notice that they don’t chow that bait
there’s a sardine bait on a spoon
I just wrapped it up together with some cotton
send it down there to see what’s going on
so that’s not getting chowed but now watch this crazy
hey we’ll do it again there’s a shad we caught one
Chelsea loves them she just kills them
no no
she’s gonna go in there after it
watch Shad’s RV coming up ha ha so yeah
we are fishing lekka and then see they don’t chow it
although on the way down
they’re kind of interested
and you do get a few chunka uh bites on the way down
which happens a lot
we never really realise that on the way down
cause it’s moving
now we get to the bottom here and you see the reef
and now look at this
as soon as you move they all come like piranhas
finally we gonna catch one
it’s crazy so
you have to understand that
when you’re fishing off the beach
and you gooi out there and then goes down to the bottom
its not moving just sitting there
you stand like this
and now you get a bite and you try and strike
doesn’t work I mean
it does work when the shad are thick
so my advice to anybody
and everybody who wants to catch shad is
use a moving bait lots of ways to do it
one way is to take my Mydo spoon
and wrap it up with bait
there’s actually holes in the spoon
that you can shove sardine in there
and now this really works
that’s what I’m doing over here
is just take a piece of fillet bait
and tie it to the spoon
or shove it in the holes or whatever
but tying it on is a good idea
send it to the bottom
or cast it out there and then move it
don’t check here
I’m jigging a little bit
and you’re getting a bit of interest
but as soon as I start winding you check
they all just come flying for it
come on shad where you are okay
there’s my spoon hanging out there
lots of fishies hey
there’s blacktail swimming around here and everything
even the blacktail go for the spoon once it’s moving
check they’re not really interested at all
just floating around there
like it looks like
that’s what your bait will look like
if you fishing like normal style
but now watch Jeezie
hey
boom got him
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha hey
what fun hey
yeah
every year about this time the shad come here
but now this year it seems to
everything seems to be a little bit slow
I was using a treble here
so it takes ages to take the hook out
so normally you
should change to singles when the fish are thick
like this but in the beginning
I like to start with a treble
just to see what’s going on
and then once the game’s clear
change to a single but yep
this definitely teaches us about moving bait
look at them it’s crazy like fighter
fighter airplanes coming in on a target
crazy analogy but it just makes me feel like it
how they home in like that
and they just see on the way down
they’re quite interested
in fact
one of them hit the camera on on one of these clips
he come in so thick and fast and angry
he clapped the camera in
that looks like he’s attacking you
you’ll see it just now but okay
this is the plan
it’s called the MYDO Shad Trace
it’s very simple
it’s a MYDO bait swimmer and in the front of it
in the back of it is a bait
like a little fillet like this
and it’s a little four
a No. 4 treble at the back of the trace
and you never miss
because while you winding and then the shad hits it
he’s vas gone no more bite oh
strike nothing of of the sort
use light tackle
use your little ultra light if you if you can bear it
but basically you just rig up
put some cotton on the thing cast out
see the black tail there
cast out and um and gently wind
and this way you don’t have to go in the rocks
and if you’re gonna get your kids or your wife
use the tackle just put a top bung
you don’t have to put one of those big heavy bungs
you can just put a little small
like a wine bottle bung on
on the on the line
and then that will keep the thing out off the rocks
this is a very exciting way to fish too
you can see your your bait getting hammered
but so you chuck it into the current
or something like that
let it go out and then gently wind it
just keep it moving
maybe every now and then go a bit faster because of um
the excitement that the speed generates
as you can see on this thing here
when that thing goes fast
Jeez they come in fast
thick and fast if you use this MYDO
system of mine
you can get literally eight baits out of one sardine
and you got the skeleton so you can take the fillets
cut them into fours and then just sew them on
just sew them on one by one
then you can cut the skeleton in half
so you get 10 baits
even out of one sardine’cause these baits are small
they’re only about like a half a fillet long
and literally
it’s a little pencil bait tied onto the wire trace
which is tied onto your MYDO
which is tied to your your hook and your line
I mean tied to you
yeah like a 10 pound
20 pound braid
ultra light outfit you’ll never have so much fun
and you’re gonna catch much more than the ous around you
cause you’re so easy and light and flexible
one thing’s for sure
some days you have to cast further than everybody else
that’s for sure with this shad fishing
so you get a MYDO 2 ounce shad trace
and that thing is going over the horizon
that thing is going so far
so that would
I would tie a bigger bait on that and send it across
and then just crank it all the way in past the rocks
look at this man it’s exciting eh
very cool stuff anyway
that’s why I got these cameras for exactly this
so I could see underwater
instead of guessing what’s going on
now I know exactly what’s going on
when I see a Dorado come along
I know exactly what’s going on
because I’ve seen those Dorado chow baits hey
they’re clever things man
go go
go get it get it
get it ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
just ah damn it
damn it damn it
I don’t know how many we caught
that they obviously caught within the limit
but it’s a lot of fun catching shad like this eh
my goodness
but okay thank you for watching
you can order these things on the sardine news
which is broken at the moment it was kind of broken
I think the shop doesn’t work because yeah
it gets very busy and I’ve check
modify and change things and next thing I’ll break it
but they’re busy fixing it now the
the server is accepting the thing one by one for me
cause I’m too busy
very nice of those guys to help
and or you can just WhatsApp me from the website
there’s a WhatsApp button somewhere
or when the website is working perfectly
but you can find my number anyway
0 7 9 3 2 6 9 6 7
1 and then you can just contact me directly
tell me where you gonna go fishing
what you wanna catch
and I’ll tell you what we can prepare for you
and and we’ll send you away with
not only the lures and stuff
but also some contacts in the area
some advice for the area and seasonal advice
you know
so give us a shout tell us where you going anyway
Mozambique the Cape whatever the story is
let us know we’ll prepare you a pack
especially if I say port st John’s in the Transkei
we got a estuary pack
we got a Queen mackerel pack we got a king mackerel pack
obviously that’s our biggest seller 9
9 9
and we also make heavy
big traces and big MYDOS for bluefin tuna
in the Mediterranean and funny enough
you won’t believe it in England
you know the big tuna just
pulled into England and in the Cape here
we could use them to catch big eyes and bluefin
and you know Mark right in um
in port in in Port Saint Francis
got a bluefin and a broadbill
using a mydo trolling behind the boat
and he lost that broadbill on the same day
ha ha ha ha ha
so yeah Mark is um Mark White sorry
not Mark right Mark right’s the surfer
Mark White’s the fisherman but yeah
he caught them I’ll put the picture up here
or maybe I won’t because I’m trying to edit this
I’m not trying not to edit this video
I just want to watch the video
and talk to you guys about the fact that
they’re moving baits they’re moving baits
they’re moving baits
it works much better than anything else
no matter where you come from
alright I’m gonna sign out here
I’m gonna leave it to play
so you can watch a bit more of this action
I can just also talk to you about
the fact that the mydos
these things is how I make a living with sardine
because Google don’t pay um
much anyway and so by selling these lures
you’re helping us keep the channel alive
so this is directly linked to the
keeping the sardine news going
and the other way we can keep the sardine
news going is by phoning me
and to organise fishing trips anywhere and everywhere
bazaruto Mdumbi all the exotic spots
I’ve got
we’ve been working all the over these places forever
I work with Captain Duarte Rato in in Mozambique
he’s the best there’s no doubting it
he’s the best got a blue Marlin yesterday
so anyway yeah
winter time the blues come
but actually the blues are there all the way here
around you gotta go out deep
you gotta go wide
got to get out there wide alright
and
the other way you can support the sardine news channel
is by joining
it’s 59 rand a month and you go on the sardine hotline
so the sardine hotline is a place where
me and my network put the real information
but
we don’t want that information to go out to the public
because next thing
if you say there’s shad butting at Splash Rock
a 1 million ous go there if you say there’s shad yeah
or anywhere hey no
it’s not fair it’s not fair on the locals and that
so we have got all the info
you know
and you can phone me directly and I might tell you
but the most important thing is
you rather just join that sardine hotline
so you know the truth
and if you wanna go on a fishing trip
you let us you just talk to us
we’ll tell you what’s going on
but you then we don’t wanna tell everybody else
that’s the whole idea to protect the resource
protect the ocean
so you can go to the sardine
news website and you can sign up over there
alright I’m gonna leave you guys
play this out without me talking
I’m very sorry I talk so much
but it’s a 12 minute video
I gotta get through all this cool footage
alrighty don’t forget to like and subscribe this channel
and the Sardine Channel and join the Sardine Channel
signing out thanks for playing
Ciao Ciao

South Africa orders can be placed HERE. This site is in USD.

Langebaan Gamefishing on a Kayak Spread

Langebaan Gamefishing on a Kayak Spread: Langebaan has clean water all year round?! Imagine that (here in KZN we go brown every rainy season)!

For the international audience here, Langebaan is a huge estuary up the West Coast from Cape Town. It is wonderfully beautiful. Deep channels and sandspits. Rocks and reef. Islands. Lotsa kelp but I’ll take stuff that over dirty water any day.

So many shades of blue!

And a huge mouth area. Making it easy for estuarine gamefish to enter and exit with the tides.

Estuarine Gamefish Species

Garrick – these things only really ever go for fast-moving lures in the upper part of the water column
Kob – these guys take a much slower retrieve mid-water to the bottom
Yellowtail – aggressive and feeding up and down the entire water column – very deep to very shallow
Shad – a shoaling fish that take the same baits as the above, but with #6 piano wire
Snoek – sure becomes a gamefish when you hook these guys on a lure

This is a really cool range of fish to be targeting. You can rig up strip baits, or swim baits, and paddle all over the place.

There are certainly other species that will also fit in the target range of the MYDO Kayak Spread, but these are the most gamefishy.

Leaders

The never-ending question…

You will get far more strikes when using a nylon leader. Flat out. But, what happens when a shad comes along? Snip-snip and he’s gone. And so, we work a compromise…

We are fishing a moving bait. A single hook right in the bait’s tail will hook up on strike against about 1 to 2 kgs of drag. I use a small, super-sharp, and strong treble to ensure a hookup right on the first bite.

With this hook is right at the back of the bait, any sharp teeth should stay down that end during the fight. There is a good 4 inches or more of wire before the nylon starts.

And so…we can fish a wire dropper from the baitswimmer to that back hook. Which is buried completely in the bait. Invisible. And then a flouro/nylon to the swivel. Doing it this way means you don’t need a swivel since you can fish the baitswimmer right on your existing leader. Ideally 30 to 40lb. Which is heavy for any estuary but it’s better to be prepared for a big fish. And those garrick and yellowtail will teach you a lesson if your tackle is to too light.

Note: after you have attached your strip bait, you can adjust the uni-knot to make sure there is play in the join. Since it is this articulation that makes for the swimming action we are after.

Kit

Braid 30lb to 50lb (top line at least 100m). Leader. A good 300m of backing. We don’t like hurting fish with light tackle. We need to get these fish in healthy for a good release. The chances of survival on light tackle is far less for any fish. They get tired and give up. On heavier tackle, you can get him in the net still frisky and good to go back.

Spread

Trolling more than two sticks on a kayak is risky as hell. Rather two maximum. And then one up front for sight-casting to surface-feeding fishies.

Then we also gonna spread them apart. As in one really close behind you at about 6 metres. Then the other one set back a little further at about 10m. This means you can turn easily without tangling. Put the longer rod further back, and your shorter rod close by. The baits are slightly weighted. And when you stop to cast, the spread sinks down. But to different depths again lessening the chance of tangling. When they drop down like this, they become extra-lethal and you get to hunt the entire water column. When you are done with casting, and you set out again – this is when plenty strikes happen. You got to watch out for the bottom structure though, with that 10m bait.

This gallery demonstrates the various deployments of MYDO Baitswimmers for estuary fishing…

Action!

You need to get that other line out of the water quick smart. And try manoeuvre away from kelp or the reef/rocks/other boats.

When a big fish is charging away from your kayak, you can to swing the boat to point the bow at the fighting fish. If you hold your rod tip to one side, the kayak goes in the other direction. And so you can steer after your fish. Lessening the overall drag on your kit. And keeping you close.

Fishing Spot Guide for Langebaan

1. The Ore Jetty: Located near the entrance of the lagoon, this spot is popular for catching white stumpnose, elf (shad), garrick, and kob. The jetty provides easy access and is a favourite among both locals and visitors.

2. Roman Banks: This area is known for its abundance of Roman fish, as well as other species like Hottentot and galjoen. It’s a great spot for shore fishing and offers beautiful views of the lagoon.

3. Lynch Blinder: A productive spot for catching a variety of fish, including white stumpnose and kob. This area is best fished during high tide when the fish are more active.

4. Schaapen Island: Accessible by boat, this island is a fantastic spot for catching yellowtail, garrick, snoek, and various species of shark. The waters around the island are rich in marine life, making it a prime fishing location.

5. Meeu Island: Another boat-accessible spot, Meeu Island is known for its excellent fishing opportunities. Anglers can expect to catch species like kabeljou, geelbek, and garrick (leervis) here.

6. Bokkomlaan: Famous for its dried fish industry, Bokkomlaan is also a great spot for fishing. The area is rich in history and offers a unique fishing experience.

Fishing Tips:

• Best Time to Fish: Early morning and late afternoon are generally the best times to fish in Langebaan.
• Bait: Pilchards, sardines, and other local baits can be bought from bait shops and the Langebaan Total Garage.
• Permits: Ensure you have the necessary fishing permits, which can be obtained from the local post office. If you are lucky enough to have a functioning post office. Otherwise online.

Safety

Kayaking in Langebaan Lagoon is a fantastic experience, but it’s important to be aware of potential dangers:

1. Strong Winds: The lagoon can experience sudden and strong winds, which can make kayaking challenging and potentially dangerous.
2. Tides and Currents: Be aware of the tides and currents, as they can change rapidly and affect your ability to navigate.
3. Cold Water: The water in the lagoon can be quite cold, especially during certain times of the year. Hypothermia is a risk if you fall in and are not properly dressed.
4. Marine Life: While encounters are rare, be aware of the presence of marine life such as jellyfish and stingrays.
5. Boat Traffic: The lagoon is popular for various water activities, so be cautious of other boats and watercraft.
6. Sun Exposure: The sun can be intense, so make sure to wear sunscreen, a hat, and protective clothing to avoid sunburn and heatstroke.
7. Limited Visibility: Fog and mist can reduce visibility, making it harder to navigate and increasing the risk of collisions (use your phone to navigate with).

Check the weather forecast before heading out, wear a life jacket, and let someone know your plans. Better still, go with a buddy. Stay safe and enjoy your kayaking adventure!

Fishing Pomene

Fishing Pomene: the best of Mozambique! This place has everything. A huge estuary. Cooking surf spots. And a very deep blue ocean beckoning to you to come fishing in it all day long. And all right down the drag from Bazaruto!

Rock n Surf

All along the front of the Pomene Sandspit is Natal Stumpnose territory. You may be lucky enough to find the delicious Speckled Snapper. Or it’s cousin the Bohar, or Mangrove Jack. Springer and bonefish also utilise this drag strip as they hunt whiting and sprats in the shallows too.

Day and night. However, nighttime is the right time. And it is very comfortable and safe fishing.

The Pomene point is a radical promontory that sticks right out into the Indian Ocean. Many trophy fish have come off these rocks. Instead of drones, local kayak anglers will paddle your bait out for you. A few hundred metres! And then drop it off. You can watch all that in the following video.

Estuary

A shape-changing delightful body of water.

Acres of kingfish. Water frothed to white. And they are on a clock!

Once you work out their pattern, you will be in the game. As with all estuaries, it takes a day or three to dial into what is going on. Where the bait is hanging about. What time does the tide push the hardest? Where is the most concentrated section of the estuary?

Once you have been able to formulate a picture in your mind as to what is going on, you can adapt your days to suit.

Walking along the inside of the sandspit north, with a little fly-rod in hand, might be one of the best walks you ever take in your life. Ultra-light will yield the same level of stoke for the less experienced. A while ago, along this exact piece of sand, on a horse riding adventure, was discovered, two big yellowfin tuna. They were over 25 kgs each. They were right up on the beach. And leading to them were two long skid marks in the sand. These two massive fish (for any estuary) had beached themselves as they rocked through a shoal of bait in the shallows. This was on the inside!

At low tide, you can very clearly see the narrowest part of the estuary. Inland is made up of peat banks and mangroves. And the seaside is soft sand that tries to bury you with every step. There is a deep gulley running from the north side, that converges right here too. This makes this a hotspot. Fish paddle tails or a bucktail for widest range of target species.

From this corner, if you are on a boat or a kayak, drift out with the tide into the middle of the shallow basin right there. Down in this basin are sunken old trees. They get covered up by sand. And uncovered. Depending on the mood of the estuary. If you can find one, with your echo sounder or by looking over the edge, anchor up and start having fun. These old trees are fish magnets and if you find one, and stay there a while, you will get strikes.

Once you go past the lodge and into the channels at the back of the estuary, you will find there are just too many netters and fishers there to have fun. That said, a spring high tide in this area will produce results and amazing spectacles as the clear blue water rushes right into the mangrove forest that lines the entire estuary.

Deep Sea

Being barely a hundred kilometres from Bazaruto (you can see Baz on a clear day, from the beach at the point) these waters see a great deal of big fish activity.

Acres of bait. Reefs dotted all over the place. The continental shelf is not even far. And Bassa da Zambia is within reach. Another incredible undersea mountain. It connects to the Sylvia Shoal by a dotted string of proper reefs and pinnacles. And it’s only 17 kms from Pomene by sea. It is fished commercially, and plundered occasionally by unidentified ships, who disappear in the early mornings. But as an undersea feature, it is immense. At the north part of the reef, it gets a bit deeper, like 20m or so, and pinnacles pop up all over the place. Snorkelling with the current down the shallow part is exhilarating. They even got sharks at Zambia!

Kayak

To fish shallow, for Queen Mackerel and kingfish and things, you can slow-trawl nice little fillet baits along the backline. Paddling towards the point keeps you protected and in the bay.

There can be a strong current on draining spring low tides at the point. The entire estuary drains in this direction but this is what brings on the shoals of kingfish. All sorts. Brassy. Blacktip. GTs. Big-eye. These fish congregate at the point and google themselves on the whitebait (sprats) that are trapped in the current.

You can paddle around the point, for a few kilometres, to find a really substantial strip of reef. There are actually two clearly identifiable ledges here, a deep and a shallow. Great for Queen and King Mackerel and the odd sailfish is known to hang around here. The current goes south from the area so take that into account.

It is tactically better to fish north of the point on a kayak. Far more controlled and easy. You get to fish that fun little backline reef halfway down the point. It is made up of a bunch of boulders strewn about the place. In about 20 feet of clean, warm water. These rocks attract the bait big time. So you can drop an anchor here (mainly to stop being blown out to sea by the offshore), catch a few lives and pin them right there. Kingfish dominate this reef but I have caught deeper water fish like Green Jobfish here too.

• Note: Launching…is very easy at this huge long sandy point. And all along that vast beach towards the north and the river mouth. There are little nooks and crannies all through the tides that you can utilise to launch and retrieve. And even leave your boat floating right there in a completely sheletered sand bay on anchor.

Spearfishing

You can swim out anywhere at Pomene. But the hot spots are the halfway backline reef. And the point. There is only sand on the floor all the way around the point but the promontory is big enough to yield traffic. You don’t need to swim too far off the point to find yourself in 50 feet. Once again, watch that current or you might be in for a very long walk home.

Channels

https://youtube.com/@Brucifire – highly entertaining  surf reporting

https://youtube.com/@thesardinenews – neva miss a single  sardine

https://youtube.com/@fishbazaruto – 1000 pounds plus

https://youtube.com/@mydotackletalk – highly technical  sport fishing

https://youtube.com/@surflaunchingsouthernafrica – getting out there safely

https://youtube.com/@waterwoes – complain here

Websites

https://umzimkulu.co.za – self-catering right on the Umzimkulu River
https://umzimkuluadrenalin.co.za –   sardine run coming up
https://thesardine.co.za – never miss a single   sardine
https://masterwatermen.co.za – news from deep down
https://brucifire.co.za –  surf and conditions reporting
https://fishbazaruto.com – your dreams are out there
https://mydofishinglures.co.za – technical  sport fishing

Mydos Fast vs Slow

Mydos Fast vs Slow: Two factors are being affected when you choose your perfect MYDO Baitswimmer for the job – depth and speed. And you have two variables to work with.

Weight. And blade size.

Weight

If you have a big bait that you want to sit right underneath your spread or chum slick, use the Bluefin Bomber at 4 or 5 ounces.

For casting your paddletail into the teeth of a howling offshore, you can go right up to 3 ounces with your 6 inch paddletail.

For sailfish, kingfish, tuna and all the other surface feeders, you need to be as light as you can yet still swim your chosen bait right.

These fish use the bait silhouette against the surface to ambush from below. And when your offering actually breaks the surface, it increases the visibility of you bait by miles. This is why it’s so cool to crank your bait fast enough for it to pop up and out of the water every metre or so. That splash leaves a trail for predators to follow.

Surface feeder gallery…

Blade Size

Big wide blades produce a lot of drag and therefore action. But you need to work out your speed parameters. Too fast and the thing starts breaking bad. Swims all over the place.

Smaller blades enable faster trolling. And more of a surface silhouette and disturbance as you drag or cast ’em around at varying speeds and actions.

Conclusion

There are many factors to take into account when choosing the right MYDO Baitswimmer for the job. The task at hand might be so technical that only a MYDO can do it. Like swimming huge baits down deep. Or combining a plug effect with a paddeltail to take full advantage of the versatility of these Mydos.

Either way, the right tool for the job is the message of this video.

https://youtube.com/@mydotackletalk

https://youtube.com/@thesardinenews

https://youtube.com/@waterwoes

https://youtube.com/@Brucifire

https://youtube.com/@surflaunchingsouthernafrica

Websites

https://brucifire.co.za

https://thesardine.co.za

https://masterwatermen.co.za

https://umzimkuluadrenalin.co.za

https://fishbazaruto.com

https://umzimkulu.co.za

mydo #baitswimmer #baitswimming

MYDO Figure of Eight Leader System (again) – extraordinarily fast and reliable braid to leader

The braid to leader question has been answered a thousand times. Simple fact is, that you can so easily tie two simple uni-knots back to back and you will be fine. However, there some fantastic joins to learn and this is but one of them…

The Art of Tying Fishing Knots

Anybody’s right-of-passage is the famed Bimini Twist to create a double-line So good-looking. So strong. You can get fast enough too, this knot can take seconds if you practise. Well, at least 30 seconds.

Then there is the traditional fly-fishing knot – the Albright. Which we adapted to become the Albright Special. Since it gets a bit of shoulder bolstering at the end part. Which takes the pressure off the main part of the knot, as the leader system traverses the rod guides. Increasing longevity remarkably.

But after years of being in the thick of things, we settled on this next combination. That we learned fishing the Southern Natal Light Tackle League in the mid-80s.

Braid to Leader with the MYDO Figure-of-Eight Leader System

A surgeon’s loop is quick and strong. If your leader knots are going to go through the eyes of the rod during the cast, then this loop has to be built tiny. Like an inch only. If its a trolling rod, take the full length of double-line allowed. 5 ft up to 20 lb line class. 10 feet over that line class. Please correct me if I am wrong again — they keep changing the rules them IGFA chaps.

Then, funnily enough, the exact same knot in one end of the pre-cut leader. But this time using only the single leader line. As you tighten, you will see a very clear figure-of-eight materialise right in front of your eyes.

Now we need to thread the double line up through the bottom hole of the figure of eight, from the inside. When the loop is through, pass the entire pre-cut leader through said loop. Gently close the loops up. You have now created a cats claw join. Very slick!

Lubricate the figure-of-eight and tighten using the tag end. If the double line is not equal at this point, just pull on it and it will become equal. Tighten real tight – I like to melt the line and the braid together!

I sure hope the video helps explain all this, and that that sub-par audio is compensated ok by the sub-titles.

You can buy Mydos at https://thesardine.co.za/mydo if you live in Southern Africa. That website is in Rands. This one is in USD and takes international deliveries into account.